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JBSA News
NEWS | Feb. 5, 2016

Army North personnel train for hurricane response in North Carolina

U.S. Army North Public Affairs

“As natural disasters or man-made disasters become more complex and resources get constrained we need to come together as a collaborative group effort to provide the support necessary,” said Army Col. Jonathan Simmons, Alabama EPLO. “We need to be able to provide the best assistance to American citizens.”

U.S. Army North’s Task Force 51 also deployed to North Carolina and trained on the same scenario less than a mile away from the DCO/E exercise.

While the DCO/E Region IV personnel focused on being DoD’s “eyes and ears” in a multi-agency, civilian-led emergency operations center, Task Force 51 trained on serving as the forward command post for the Joint Forces Land Component Command. Similar to the DCO/E’s CERTEX, coordination with civilian officials was a critical component of TF-51’s exercise.

“This type of exercise allows us to build solid relationships with local, state and federal agencies and to better coordinate efforts,” said Maj. David Briten, a TF-51 liaison and future operations planner. “It’s an opportunity to help Americans in the homeland.”

Staff Sgt. Michael Cucalon, an intelligence sergeant with Army North agreed, saying it is important to learn the different processes in training where the human lives in danger are only simulated.

“Each state does things differently, but we all have the same goal and that is to save lives,” Cucalon said. “I am proud to have this mission because I get to serve and help those in need, which could one day include my own friends and family”

Bringing the collective team together helped ensure everybody is on the same page “to practice standard operating procedures and other tactics and techniques,” Thompson said. “This CERTEX allows the team to learn innovative ways to conduct DSCA, which can be a much nuanced mission.”

DCO/E Region IV certification will last the duration of Thompson’s tenure. When he moves on, the new defense coordinating officer will have to recertify the DCO/E for Region IV.